In many countries turnover tests triggering merger control can be overly far-reaching and cover transactions that are “entirely foreign” and do not have any appreciable effect in the country concerned. Newly issued German...more

The Italian Competition Authority has updated its merger control turnover thresholds. Effective from 10 March 2014, Section 16 (1) of Law No 287 of 10 October 1990 requires prior notification of all mergers and acquisitions...more

Highlights:
- Higher market share thresholds are expected to increase the number of cases benefiting from the simplified procedure by approximately 10%.
- Joint ventures with no activities in the EEA qualify for...more

The European Commission (Commission) has adopted important revisions to its merger control procedures under what it characterizes as a Merger Simplification Package that will enter into force on January 1, 2014. The new rules...more

On 5 December 2013, the European Commission adopted its “Merger Simplification Package” with the stated objective of cutting red tape and reducing costs for businesses in EU merger filings. The package broadens the scope of...more

The European Commission (Commission) has issued a package of measures (the Reform Package), the rationale for which is to simplify and streamline EU merger control. The Reform Package does this by extending “simplified”...more

On June 20, 2013, the European Commission (Commission) launched a public consultation on a number of significant proposed changes to the EU Merger Regulation (EUMR). The proposed amendments relate to (i) the possible review...more

Since it is early in 2013 (according to the Gregorian calendar), this competition law update considers possible competition law developments in the year ahead. Rather than a “Janus” approach of rounding up last year, it...more

China’s Ministry of Commerce recently announced that it opened four investigations during 2012 into suspected non-compliance with China’s merger control notification procedures. The outcomes of the investigations are still...more

The General Court of the European Union (the "General Court") has upheld the substantial €20 million fine imposed by the European Commission (the "Commission") on Belgium's largest electricity supplier, Electrabel, for its...more